Compass, the leftwing group committed to pluralism, has welcomed the proposals in the Gordon Brown commission report, but complained that they do not go far enough. In a news release, it says:

Brown’s report … includes some promising recommendations, including plans to replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber, but ultimately the vision lacks the depth and breadth needed to tackle the UK’s democratic disillusionment.

In two key ways, Brown’s proposals fall short: failing to involve citizens in designing a new democracy from the start; and overlooking one of the most important structural changes this country needs to respond to the challenges of 21st century government: proportional representation. These two commitments would mean both greater legitimacy and longevity for Brown’s proposals.

Compass says Labour would be better advised to follow the proposals in its own report, We’ll have what they’re having: How decentralisation in Germany created the conditions for ‘the great transformation’.

Unlock Democracy, a group campaigning for “real democracy”, has also criticised the Brown report for not endorsing proportional representation.

All frontline health and social care staff would pay zero basic rate income tax for the next three years under proposals unveiled by Reform UK as it sought to re-capture momentum after a poor showing in last week’s Chester byelection overshadowed recent strong polling results.

Waiting times would be cut to zero and the staffing...

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